Coronavirus: Hong Kong ramps up efforts with Beijing’s on-the-ground support to contain ballooning Covid-19 outbreak
- Work starts on building around 10,000 isolation and treatment units for infected people, while second team of mainland experts arrives to help battle pandemic
- In Shenzhen, top-level coordination group discussed help for city in third meeting chaired by Xia Baolong, director of State Council’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office
The city confirmed more than 6,000 new infections, even as authorities said patients were no longer left waiting in the cold outside swamped public hospitals after several days of distressing scenes.
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Breaking down Hong Kong's dynamic zero Covid-19 strategy
In neighbouring Shenzhen, a top-level, tripartite coordination group discussed help for Hong Kong in a third meeting chaired by Xia Baolong, director of the State Council’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office.
Xia put the focus on unified action to end the crisis, calling on everyone to support the local government in overcoming the public health crisis.
Saturday’s meeting covered help with transportation of anti-epidemic materials, opening special ports to speed up customs clearance of supplies and personnel, and promoting the construction of makeshift hospitals.
Mainland construction teams began work on the new facilities for Covid-19 patients at the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal and Penny’s Bay, as the city accelerated its anti-pandemic efforts after President Xi Jinping put the local government on notice to bring the situation under control and ensure social stability.